CZE/PUR - All systems go for Boricua women

TRUTNOV (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women) - The Puerto Rican women have served notice that they will be a dangerous team at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) for Women.

Last year's Pan American Games champions won their friendly against the Czech Republic on Tuesday, 66-54.

The game was played in Trutnov.

Puerto Rico hit back from a 37-35 deficit to claim a morale-boosting victory.

"It's always good to begin a tour with a triumph, especially against a team like the Czech Republic," Puerto Rico coach Omar González said.

Jazmine Sepúlveda led Puerto Rico with 16 points while Carla Cortijo weighed in with 14 and Mari Placido added 13 along with eight rebounds.

The game wasn't pretty.

The Puerto Ricans turned the ball over 17 times while the Czechs had 26 turnovers.

While just a friendly, the match-up is an intriguing one because the two sides could very well meet in the Quarter-Finals of the OQT.

Puerto Rico are in Group A with Turkey and Japan while the Czechs are in Group B with New Zealand and Argentina.

Puerto Rico and the Czechs will play again on Wednesday, and the FIBA Americas team will then travel to Holland for three more friendly games.

Lubor Blazek, the Czech Republic coach, will not be hitting the panic button after the loss.

He decided not to play frontline players Hana Horakova, Eva Viteckova, Jana Vesela, Ilona Burgrova, Michala Hartigova and Petra Kulichova.

"For us, it was the first game," Blazek said.

"We played a slightly different group because it's necessary to test all players, to give them a better chance.

"The nomination isn't yet clear, and I just do not want to go back to the stereotypes that if someone was already in the team, she will be again and again."

Blazek said ahead of Wednesday's game: "Tomorrow, the group will be different."

This is a busy summer for the Puerto Rico women.

They will host the Centrobasket 11-16 June in Morovis, and will then compete at the OQT which tips off on 25 June.

FIBA